Crookshanks reprised: Observations and Etymology

[Indigo]

No: HPFGUIDX 16642

You can tell I just spent an hour reading the penultimate few chapters 
of PoA.  *chuckle*

I've got more thoughts about Crookshanks.

I'm not sure if Ron's phobia of Spiders came up in PoA. I can't 
remember. I do, however, know that Crookshanks leapt into Hermione's 
lap with a large spider in his mouth and watched Ron the whole time he 
ate it, even after Ron made it clear he was disturbed: "Does he have 
to eat that here?"  

To me, anyway, that implies it did come up at some point, and 
Crookshanks knew enough to use it against Ron.

Also, Sirius says that Crookshanks stole Neville's list from Neville's 
bedside table at his behest.  This tells me that Crookshanks is very 
much unlike a normal cat.  Normal cats don't follow orders, although 
they can be trained. I sincerely doubt that Sirius could train a cat 
to get into a place he himself couldn't get into and steal something 
for him to facilitate his *getting* in.

Sirius also says he is able to communicate with Crookshanks, and earn 
his trust.  Also not something doable with a normal cat.  You can earn 
a normal cat's trust, but the communication is more questionable. 
Again, you can train a cat, but I again doubt Sirius had the means to 
feed Crookshanks tasty tidbits as a reward.  Sirius himself looked all 
wan and starved.

Crookshanks also is capable of retaining information for a good while 
since he can remember how to turn off the Whomping Willow (which 
apparently resets itself after a period of time). He turned it off so 
Harry and Hermione could follow after Ron, and he turned it off again 
so they could emerge from the passage with the chained Pettigrew.

One more observation that puts me firmly in the Crookshanks is at 
least part Kneazle (or, I'm beginning to think more likely a Kneazle 
who is part normal cat):  his name.

A shank is a straight and narrow nail. [Merriam-Webster]

Crook - Shanks = Nail the crooks!

Indigo
[a good hot bath and a good book do wonders for the mind!]